Venting device



June 24, 1958 J. H. ROUTLEDGE VENTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1954 3 Fig. 2

James H. Rout/edge mmvroa BY MM fi dup Unite States Patent VENTING DEVICE James H. Routledge, Bellwood, Ill., assignor of forty percent to George C. Powell, Bellwootl, Ill.

Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,778

3 Claims. (Cl. 137493) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a bung which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted to be screwed and thus plugged into a screw threaded hole provided therefor in'an oil laden or equivalent drum, the type used for transporting the oil product, or the like, from the refinery or source to the consumer for use in a customary or well known manner.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior art bungs and venting devices, and has to do with a construction which performs as a regular drum bung, functions toidentify and name the product contained in a given drum, filters the displacement air into the drum as the product is drawn off, automatically vents internal drum pressure, controls the air vented in to displace the product being drawn olf, and also relieves pressures built up in the drum by temperature changes, agitation and shipping conditions.

Another object of the invention has to do with a bung and an associated or complemental valved venting device which is detachably connected therewithand which is characterized by a ported head disposed with the ports in a plane above or higher than the chime of the drum so that the incoming air is filtered as it enters the drum negativing the likelihood of taking in water, dirt, snow or any other extraneous or deleterious matter.

Briefly summarized, the invention comprises a bung which is adapted to fit removably in the usual screw threaded bung hole and which has selectively usable screw threaded portions of different diameters to function in lieu of the two existing standards bungs now on the market, said bung having a screw threaded socket therein to accommodate a valved venting device which has a screw threaded attaching neck screwed into the socket, said device also having venting ports in a plane above the chime of the drum, as stated, and being characterized by a conspicuous hollow head of prescribed design or configuration which is intended to carry a brand name, trademark, name of the producer or maker and any other equivalent explanatory advertising media, this to enhance the sale as well as for the practical appropriateness of use by the consumer.

It is a matter of common knowledge that from the refinery batching plant to the final pouring of oil, for example, into an engine or motor, there are many opportunities for costly losses due to contamination, mistakes, leakage, uncertainty and, of course, various risks increased by every day carelessness on the part of employees and handlers, generally speaking. Experience has shown that on one large'construction project where several investigations were carried out to determine product connections to losses and failures, the following results were brought to light, to wit: In two separate cases, for instance, rock drill oil was used inadvertently for lubricating oil, and this caused seizure and costly damages, resulting from carelessness on the part of the servicing ice or water because of careless venting and poor seating of the replaced bungs. Many such similar instances could be listed at this time to emphasize the need for the provision of an improved bung, for example, the one herein revealed and which, it is believed, will provide a satisfactory solution for the aforementioned and similar problems.

Numerous other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of an oil drum or equivalent lubricant, chemical or similar container. and illustrating, what is more important, the improved bung and the complemental automatic venting device which is a companion and complemental part thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in section taken on the approximate vertical line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an edge elevation of the valved venting device;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the pressure responsive valve or valving means; and Figure 5 is a section on the horizontal line 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the drum head or chime, as it is sometimes referred to, is denoted" by the numeral 6, and this has an outstanding flange which encircles the so-called bung hole, and this isdenoted by the numeral 8 and is internally screw thread ed, as shown in Figure 2, to accommodate the readily attachable and detachable screw threaded two-in-ocne bung 10. This bung comprises a larger screw threaded body portion 12 having a flange 1 4 and of cup-shaped form with the recessed or cup portion denoted at 16. Extending into this space, I provide diametrically op posite suitably shaped wrench accommodating lugs 18 which expedite the screwing in and removing the. bung. The bottom of this recess or well is denoted at 20 and this is centrally provided with a reduced additional screw threaded plug portion 22 and both portions are provided with packing or sealing rings 24 and 26, respectively. .As before stated, these threaded portions provide a two-inone bung which serves to take the place of individual and so-called standard bungs, the two which are now on the market. There is an upstanding annular V-shaped rib whose apex is sharpened, and this is denoted at 28. Also the plug is provided with a screw threaded socket 30, the bottom of which is denoted at 32. This bottom has a frangible center portion 34 which may be punched out with a screwdriver or other instrument for purposes of opening and setting the bung into operation.

The readily attachable and detachable complemental or insignia of the company putting out the oil or equiv- 40 which may be filled (not shown) with; suitable air filtering material. There, are diametrically opposite downwardly and outwardly inclined "airvents i at 42.42

communicating with this chamber. Leading from the bottom of the chamber, there is a shouldered neck 431 having an axial bore 44 with a reduced screw threaded end portion 46 defining a shoulder at 47 which rests on the knife-like'edge of the rib 28 in the manner shown in Figure 2. The reduced neck 46 is screw threaded and it is screwed into the aforementioned socket 30'.

In this neck, there is an automatically ,openable and closable valve. Specifically, this comprises a lug 48 having a vertically relatively small orifice or air port'SO therein. The valve is. a so-called flap valve, audit is integralwith a side of the Wall of the bore 44 approximately opposite to the'lug, and is denoted by the numeral 52 and has a downwardly deflected or slightly bent free end portion 54 which is adapted to open and close the passage 50.

This control valve assembly is made of plastic and controls the air vented in to displace the product being drawn off and also relieves the pressure built up in the drum by temperature change. The valve52 is designed to give a light pressure seating on the lug- 48 and will bend down at 54 at the slightest depression in pressure in the head space of the drum. When drum pressure reaches atmospheric balance, the valve will seat back on the seating --lug, and this seating willstop any prod ucts from: leaking out of the barrel when it is in a horizontal position or on its side. When excessive pressure is built up inside-the drum, the pressure will bulge or deflect the intermediate or middle portion of the valve 52 and will then pull the free end or lip 54 away from the small drilled passage 50, thus relieving the pressure.

Theclips 56 and 58 (see Figure 3) on the 'face of the hollow head: serve to accommodate an insertable and removable label or tag 60 which may be broadly treated as a' nameplate. 'This will have displayed thereon informative instructions for any prescribed orcareful use of the product containedxin the drum. It may contain the trademark, brand. name, or name of the producer or any other advertising media. From the batching plant to the consumer, the drum ventingdevice with its label acts as a, product nameplate. When the device 26 is unscrewed, it exposes the frangible bottom 32 of the socket, and the latter is punched and the venting device is replaced and thev spigot or tap (not shown) is placed in an alternate bung hole and thedrum vent starts its filtered venting for theconsumer in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing, 'the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explana-v tion is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A two-way valving and venting device for a liquid container comprising a hollow head having air intake and discharge orifices and an axially bored attaching neck the bore of which is in communication with the hollow portion of said head and consequently said orifices, a rigid lug having an end portion fixed to a predetermined portion of the wall of said bore, projecting radially into said bore and having a port, a flexible pressure responsive flap valve extending transverse of and cooperating with said bore in a manner to control flow of fluid through the bore and having a portion only of its periphery attached to a cooperating wall portion of said bore and a free peripheral portion opposite said attached portion and underlying and normally closing the port in said lug, whereby the free end of said flap valve can flex in a direction longitudinally of the port to open said port to allow flow of air through the bore'in one direction and can also flex in the opposite direction in a manner to slide said free end radially of said port to also open said port and thus allow flow of air in saidopposite direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein the cross-sectionaldiameter of said bore is appreciably less than'the area of the hollow space in said head, the orifices in said head being disposed opposite each other and in a plane well above the junctional connection of the upper end of the bore with said space, said lug and said flap valve having a position in said bore adjacent to but spaced above the lower end of said bore.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the hollow space in said head functions to provide a generally sector-shaped chamber, the inwardly anddownwardly slanting bottom walls of said chamber converging towardthe upper end of said bore, and wherein the free end of said flap valve is tapered to feather-edge thinness for sensitive control and operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15,192 Peale June 24, 1856 47,787 Berg May 23, 1865 666,844 Burgholz Jan. 29, 1901 670,794 Lott Mar. 26, 1901 844,755 Schalow Feb. 19, 1907 857,957 Mueller June 25, 1907 1,292,988 Bacon Feb. 4, 1919 1,383,389 Davis July 5, 1921 1,429,566 Carlile Sept. 19, 1922 1,435,331 Pasco Nov. 14, 1922 1,632,772 Bijur June 14, 1927 1,887,448 Behringer Nov. 8, 1932 2,411,149 Dodson Nov. 19, 1946 2,445,465 Arnesbury et a1 July 20, 1948 2,526,197 Cannon et al Oct. 17, 1950 2,604,507 Tyson July 22, 1952 

